Almost 99.9999% of the comments I get on DA are very nice and complimentary. For this I am grateful and appreciative. I also appreciate the occasional criticism that suggests I try a different crop, color, or lens choice. Even after 35 years I feel it is vital to listen to all the input I get because there are occasional jewels of ideas that come from learned professionals and beginning amateurs alike. Sometimes I even like it more when someone who is new to photography makes suggestions because they aren't stifled by the "rules" we all learn when we start out.

Recently, I've had a few people say some interesting and absurd things. These comments are related to my having taken down my gallery of nudes. First of all, let me say, my motive for this action was simply time management. I run a business so I don't have time to respond to all the comments or even read them all.The suggestion has been made that by me removing the nudes, by responding to horrid comments then hiding and blocking that user, and by not allowing comments in the first place that means I am "chicken". That "if I can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen". That "people are welcome to their opinions".

As a professional photographer in Los Angeles, the suggestion that I can't take criticism is absurd to the extreme. One does not survive in one of the most competitive markets in the world by hiding from criticism or shrinking down when it comes like a hail storm. I choose my battles, see what merit is in engaging in dialog with whoever makes criticism, and decide if my return on investment is worthwhile.

Cyber bullying is becoming a MAJOR problem on the net and several states have now passed legislation making it a crime. I'm not going to go into specific cases but type in "Cyber bullying deaths" on Google and read what you get. Kids are taking their own lives because of the horrid things said about them on line. And our response should be, "Well, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!" That might be the stupidest, most horrid, and terribly noncompassionate remark ever.Someone once posted on an image I shot,"Your model should be taken out back and shot like the whore dog she is". I am VERY protective of my models and this is NOT OK behavior. This is NOT an "opinion". This is NOT a "criticism" or simply "their opinion".I posted a journal (actually a few) about how outraged I was. Mostly people agreed . but I also got this from one DA member "Taken out back and shot like the whore dog she is?" Really? Fuck that's an epic quote...I'm gonna have to start using that!"Or there is this "Commenting, then blocking is known as "Internet Cowardice"--of which you're a repeat offender. Which means you're pretty immature."

See the problem here? Not only DA, but the internet in general has a SERIOUS SERIOUS issue. People who say horrid, hateful, vitriolic things with no consequences are rife on this and other web sites. But thankfully, it is slowly changing. Keep in mind, people, that if you say something horrid about a model and she takes her own life, you stand a chance of being dragged into court and doing time. And I sincerely hope you do.

To suggest that someone (ME) who blocks people for cyber bullying and making hideous comments is "wimpy", "can't stand the heat in the kitchen", or is "Immature" is like telling the world Hitler was just "voicing his opinion". The classic psychological tactic to reverse the tables in a situation like this is simply childish foot stomping from ill mannered infants. I've had 3 death threats here on DA and the response is supposed to be,"Well, Michael, if ya can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"?

So where do comments "cross the line"? Again, as I have said MANY times here on DA, on MY gallery, I will decide. MY gallery is not a democracy. Neither is my house, my property, or any comment of a horrid nature about my models. HERE, I am the boss and if you wanna test to see if I am a "coward", "wimp", or "immature" . then cross the line. I value those who say, "Im not crazy about this color, crop, or that the background doesn't work". But negative comments about my models don't really work for me. Go somewhere else and get your jollies or do it on your own page.

I would be in favor of everyone on DA having to post their REAL names and where they live. It MIGHT help a tad. I hope so because as I see it, DA is having some growing pains. I also think DA and their staff are VERY VERY bright people and will get through whatever comes their way. It's a wonderful site and I've met a lot of cool people. I'll be hanging around for a while!!

Well, god damn it. I have been gone for a long time. Partly because I forgot my password. But, I remembered it. I was originally Lenorek.

I have always enjoyed your nudes. For a lesbian with no friends and no partner, your nudes would always help the lonely cold nights move on. I have a folder with your name and some of your nudes in it on my hard drive. But, unlike some asshats. The ones I save will never see the internet. Because A) they are for my personal entertainment only. B) I do not post another person's work without permission. C) I am not a pirate or ripper.D) your work and the beauty of your models always helped me out of depression and to stop crying. Also your work is superb. Your nudes are 100 times better then most pornography.

I know how bullying goes. I was relentlessly bullied at school. I even got into a fist fight at one point, I lost royally, but I was still standing. The bullying got so bad though that at 13 years old, I attempted suicide more then once. But I am dismayed and loathed to think that it has gotten worse since then. I mean death threats?!? wtf, man?

Unfortunately you are not the only person I admire who has received death threats. Ellen Page, an actress I have a crush on. Who recently came out at a Human Rights Campaign Conference received death threats not only for her conceived relationship with Alexander Skarsgard but also for coming out. I also get protective of my fellow women, and your models are no exception. Your models are beautiful, and from your pictures, they emanate a caring warmth that I look for in my future wife. But "Your model should be taken out back and shot like the whore dog she is"? Jesus Christ, I'd love to have the pleasure of sucker punching the cretin who said that. I am sorry you had to go through that.

Sending toxins through the mail is a Federal crime. Call your local postal inspector. They are in the white pages under US Gov, or I'm surprised (well OK maybe not) the local PD didn't refer you to them.

You're fecal mailer also endangered every postal worker between you and him. The USPS tends to take that personnally.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why some people think they should behave badly because they think noone can touch them. What has happened to humanity? First, it's wrong to be an ass to other people. Second,the Internet isnt as anonymous as they think.

I agree that it should be not without consequences when someone is hateful towards others. In the net or outside. However, I am strictly against having to use my real name online, because for me, that would mean I loose a sacred division: The difference between my professional life and my hobbyist life, which I live out here. I work with children, and I don't want somebody who wants to get back at me easily find my poems or something I said in a forum or comment, take it out of context, present it to some parents and get me in trouble. It's not that I don't stand behind what I said online, but I always take the nastiness of some people into consideration. I also wouldn't want a kid's parent to contact me via dA trying to talk about their kid's problems, because here, that's my private life.

Also I would like to point out: If everyone on the net was forced to use their real names, many people in China, in Syria ertc would be not only in trouble, but loose a way to voice their protest and even be in mortal danger. The right to be somewhat anonymous on the web is precious to me. But it can never be an excuse to forget that the other side is a human being too and hide behind that anonymity to post hatefull comments or death-threats. In my eyes a political lobby is using these poor children who couldn't stand the bullying anymore toforce a real-name-duty on all of us.

It's such a shame that people on here post such horrible things. I liked your nudes a lot - they really were great art. I don't consider all nudes art, there's a very define line, but yours really were. I have had a lot of offensive comments on my last user here, and also decided to disable comments - and that's on photos of cows grazing on a field! I never got why they had to write rude comments on photos of happy cows on grass...

I really hope that you're right about it slowly changing. I agree truely in all you wrote here.

you know my friend, i added you a long time ago to my watch list and ill admit it was for the nudes, but here lately you have been opening my mind to how great a photographer you are REALLY. The last post of the "market" in (that country i forget the name of now) with the cannibals....you are a lot deeper than i expected. You are an amazing photographer and actually an inspiration to me now that i think on it. Thank you for opening my mind, eyes, and heart to photography in a new light.

Well, I think I speak for many when I say we will certainly miss our nude gallery. It was full of the most decadent and yet tasteful nudes on this site, and brilliantly highlighted the natural aesthetic beauty of the female form (yes, I happen to also be female). But I do understand your reasons, and you have a life you need to attend to, which should amount o more than protecting your lovely models from blind stupid hatred. It's only sad it has to come to this.

I absolutely agree with you taking your authority to silence bullies on your forum, and I hope you continue to enforce it. It is your space, and you will do with it what you will. I'm glad you go to such great lengths to protect your models from unnecessary abuse. I do, however, disagree with your endorsement of removing anonymity on DA.

For one, I think it probably wouldn't work. We can see from sites like Facebook, where your real name is more or less required, that internet behavior is just as trollish and immature as it is on sites like DA. People will say hurtful or disgusting things as long as they can get away with it, and considering the broad disconnect between any two people on the internet, real names or no, most people can get away with saying most things. This is exacerbated when people can find groups of similarly-minded people with such ease, as one can find on the internet, offering a shield against criticism that allows these attitudes to fortify.

Second, even if real names do have a considerable impact, trying to enforce good behavior on the internet through threats to people's reputations ignores some of the potentially valuable information we can gleam about what people actually think. The internet is unique in its ability to make people feel comfortable saying publicly what they'd likely only ever say in the privacy of their homes or in the company of their friends and colleagues. This gives us a glimpse into the dark, dismal nature of humanity, without the sugar coating that most of us feel we need to employ when talking to strangers in person.

As for the bullying laws, I favor anything that will make excessive, consistent, and targeted abuse a punishable offense, but they need to be addressed with a great deal of balance and respect for the 1st Amendment. I haven't read the laws you mentioned, so I don't know the details, but laws like that can be easy to exploit if written too loosely, and could lead to the victims of one-time abuses to victimize others for speaking their minds. See the cluster-f**k of an anti-blasphemy law in Ireland that was passed a few years back. ([link])

How this applies to DA is another issue. If DA were a professional art portfolio website, I would think real names would be a requirement anyway. What DA is is essentially a glorified art forum, where people can freely share and experience art as well as opinions. With that freedom and informality comes the abuses we see so often on the internet, but I think those should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and not discouraged so broadly that we lose the value of honest insights to the attitudes of a significant number of people. I've personally elected change my username to my real name. I am comfortable with my opinions, and not afraid to have them challenged with a potential impact on my personal reputation, but that's my choice and I respect those that want a higher degree of anonymity.

Oh man... I was offline for a number of weeks (having my first baby, and then trying to settle into the completely amazing and exhausting new role of 'mum'), and now I am very sad to find some of my favourite pieces removed due to ignorance, prejudice, and general mean spiritedness. Such a shame!

This is not a comment to complain, and I do not blame you in the least, but I would like to say how much I've appreciated your work and inspiration over these past few years that I've been a fan. I like to think that as a photographer I've learned a few things from studying your work, and as a well rounded human being I have benefited intellectually from some of your personal posts.

Cheers and thanks. Will continue to check in on your posts as I'm able of course.

you are a giant and the anger towards you seems like jealousy from the people that are praying to one day stand in your garbage. the problem with firing back at the offenders are figuring out which ones are just virgins living in their moms basement and which ones are the gun toting sociopaths. as one of your devoted, i look forward to your contributions. you arent paid to post so i feel lucky that you are sharing. you don't need the bullshit but please keep posting. you are living the dream, so don't let the ones looking up at you get you down. deviantART muro drawing

Don't believe I have seen your nude works (or your non-nudes for that matter, but I shall peruse your gallery with interest), so do not know what I am missing.It is tragic that you have felt the need to do this, especially with the comments received, those aimed at your models (totally, wholly, outrageous and unacceptable) or yourself (death threats? Unbelieveable! Apart from the fact I do believe you, of course! ) Sadly with the number of people there are who use the internet you will always get those who do not have any concept of how to act with any degree of politeness or decorum.You did what you felt you should do with your galleries and images. That is your right and privilege. If you had done so on a whim ("No one has bought me any beer, Im gonna pull my galleries") it is still your right. I might not agree with such a reason, but could do no more than acknowledge you have that right. With the reasons you had I can see no other real recourse open to you. Tragic, but understandable.

I agree. I think that abuse and harassment are abuse and harassment. I don't care what medium you use to convey or communicate them, that's what they are. If you're treating someone poorly, you should face the repercussions for it that you would under any other circumstance. Whether that's legal ramifications, or the rest of the general population ostracizing you for it, I don't care. One thing, to me, is for certain though. Deviantart does not police things as well they should. It's not always their fault, sometimes it's just hard to keep up, but we need to help improve this system before the trolls continue to ruin it for the members who are actually here to add value.

I don't necessarily agree with everything you said(though I can agree with the general sentiment behind what you're doing), but I can certainly accept your decision to do what you want in the confines of your own DA page/house/whatever you own.

I don't really know your art, nor have I seen it before. I just went to comment on something of yours that I saw on the front page and saw I couldn't, then found this post. It's disappointing that a few people have ruined it for the rest of us, but if that's what you feel you need to do then I can support that.

People have actually called YOU immature after saying those horrible things??? That idiot who said that terrible thing about the model being a whore dog should be dragged into court. Just know this. It is pure jealousy. Men are jealous of you and the women are jealous of your models. You and these lovely ladies are artists, and damn good ones at that. Don't let these wastes of sperm get to you or your models. Karma is a bitch after all and they will get what is coming to them.

A wonderful gallery filled with colourful, inspiring images, bravo. I more than sympathize with you disabling comments, the nonsense that one has to put up with is occasionally quite phenomenal. Best wishes my friend, John

Yea - I'm sure you get it also. I finally had to remove my nudes from ANYWHERE on the net. It was getting to the point where it looked like that was ALL I shoot, when, in fact, it is a TEENY percentage of my work. Plus the fact (as I'm sure you experience) I was seeing my images EVERYWHERE used without my permission.

I'm SUCH a fan, John. If you are ever in LA, please stop in for drinks. Also - you can always use my studio. A nice space(1000 sq ft) with my home attached in front.Always look forward to seeing more of your work!

I think you had some of the best pictures I have seen very artsy and creative. I guess the thought that there will always be someone there who is to jelious and doesnt understand something good when it comes along is true. you do what you think is best and your true followers will still be faithful in the art you create. That being said Good job my friend you are truly a blessing on the art community.

People have been getting a little outrageous. I think mostly due to the anonymity the internet provides. It's a place where you can say, or do anything you'd like without ANY chance of repercussion, while i think this is a fairly good idea in some cases for people who should have a right to speak about certain things like religion which seems to have a iron wall of safety around it, others take it to an entirely evil extreem. Over time that became a mainstream sort of thing. And instead of simply saying 'i don't like this' they say horrid things because they can, in real life they wouldn't say such things, although I've seen the internet kind of...leak out of the screen.

In reality people are getting cockey more outspoken with things they really aut not to. I think that in some way is related to the internet, it teaches people they can say these things and there is no problem. they can torment people and it can indeed be fun to pick on people (I admit I am guilty of doing it once or twice on people who were obvious trolls trying to get a rise out of people) It may have been the internet but I am entirely ashamed of it anyway because I know better, anything I say I try to have meaning behind. I'm not sure if other people feel the same or simply wish they could carry over the idea that they can say and do anything without getting in trouble.

It's a scary thought. People feeling so much hatred for ones they don't know only brought together due to a click of a link. I guess it's easy to forget how negative the web can be, for me, it's a place of infinite knowledge when I have no access to it. A place that brings me closer to other people through things we enjoy such as art or music. For others it can be a place to voice hatred and anger without reality having any say.

I'm not a fan of nudes, as I've said, and several people on here I've voiced highly negative views on, who spread their legs and snap so they can get famous on DA without any thought for art. Your work however is one of very few that actually drives me to find the human form truly beautiful and give it another look. Even flaws gaining a light of perfection which is a true talent. As are your ladies who are truly talented, and the love the put into their work shows through in every shot. I really miss the nudes, I also understand your reasoning and support it.

I'm just too stubborn to remove or hide comments added to my home page after lengthy discussions on other pages. Perhaps not removing those entire is actual a weakness? One in which valuing the opinion of haters on the size of your internet balls is more important than ignoring hate filled comments.

I just want to say thank you and good for you! cyber bullying is an aweful problem. People should be held accountable for the things they say. Yes, people are intitled to their opinions but "taken out back and shot like the whore dog she is", WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT??? She, They are models, women, people with a heart and soul. And anything they want to do is their right. If someone doesnt like it then why are they looking??? I am really sorry that you have had to deal with this and that it has caused you to pull down your gallery. You were one of the first photographers i started following when i joined DA and i am truely going to miss your are. It is AMAZING. I have always wanted to do artistic nudes, both as a model and as a photographer. Looking at your art has been inspiring. I will miss your work. Again, i am so sorry that this has caused you to leave. People can be so insensitive and, well, just plain ignorant!

By why did you take down some of the most adorable pictures? I loved the ones of you and scar. Especially the ones of Scar and Velocity. I miss a lot of the art you took down. Bring it back please. <3 Love your work.

Wow... I just can't even fathom that someone would say something like that about another person. That is just pure, infantile trolling. I'm sure he probably thought it was really funny, too. I've read a lot of articles about the facelessness of the internet makes people really brave to say things they would never say in real life. It's really a terrible thing. I'm sorry you've had to deal with people like that, and I commend you for how you handled it.

I am so sorry to hear about your galleries. I have followed them since my years in Art college. I have truly enjoyed the elegance and beauty of your photography. I know you may not get to this message but you have been inspirational as well as educational. Thank you and best to you and all of your models over the years.

YEAH, FUCK TROLLS. They have small penises, are overweight, and live with their mothers. But about that whole , everyone's personal info should be on their profile...um perhaps not. I mean, its not that guys like me really wont mind, but just think about all the models that get corny lines, marriage proposals, and told they are THE ONE by every other creep on this site. In solving your problem there will be a whole nother world of problems, plus there are also those instances in which two individuals go at it and threaten to kill one another. The internet provides most individuals with a sort of veil from under which they can voice any malignant, Juvenal, or otherwise atrocious comment without any repercussions. This is the true characteristic of a coward and the next time they call you a wimp then you can just point out the previous statement to them. If there is a way to gather the private information of the members of DA without it being available to that general public, then it might be an improvement. That way the proper authorities can pass judgement or punishment to those the cause problems. Even then however, hacking is getting easier and easier, and who is to say that a destitute mind wont wonder into the information and go hunting for those that hurt him or otherwise ignored them. Humans not fit for humanity, oh the irony.

I insulted trolls by picking at their weight, so if you take insult then you must be admitting that you are one. If that is the only thing you could pick out of my entire post then you are blatantly ignorant and if you insult me again I will not dignify you with a response. Once again, I have nothing against anyone of any particular weight range and my initial comments were directed at individuals that mock and criticize others just for laughs.

I disagree on one point, though : being flamed by stupid people is inherent to my very presence on the Internet and I will fight it teeth and nails. But I accept it. Assholes are everywhere in real life, why should we pretend I will not meet them on the Internet? But where I'm 120% with you, dear bird, is when you say that horrid comments can have an influence on a model's psychological health. According to my experience, many of the girls I shoot approach nude photography as some sort of therapy. Making bad comments about their physical appearance or their status or their supposed psychological status cause that therapy to go all wrong, in somes cases to the point of ne return. I can not be tolerated.

In one word " flame must if you must, but don't touch my models or I will kill you..."